GHNS Illinois Budget (3/24/08)

Monday

Mar 24, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 24, 2008 at 5:51 AM

GHNS Illinois Budget (3/24/08)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

NEWSPAPERS OF THE YEAR: The Newspapers of the Year have been named in “The Best of GateHouse 2007” competition. The story can be seen at http://www.ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1206319475

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT:

Game on: ‘Wii-habilitation’ gives seniors new way to get exercise

GALESBURG – For a woman in her 90s, Mary Hyenga has quite an arm. Hyenga, a resident of the Knox County Nursing Home, spends some of her mornings lobbing pitches, swinging bats and throwing bowling balls in the nursing home’s recreation area, with the help of an activity aide -- and a Nintendo Wii. By Jane Carlson of the Galesburg Register-Mail. With video of residents playing the Wii.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x899758092

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.

DEAD CATTLE: Several head of dead cattle were found over the weekend in piles of manure at a farm near Hanna City. Police also reported manure overflowing down a ravine and into a creek nearby. By Leslie Fark of the Peoria Journal Star. Will be posted this evening.

MORGAN TRIAL: EUREKA – Jurors began deliberating this afternoon to decide whether accused murderer Hershel Morgan killed 18-year-old Jessica Curless and abandoned her body near a vacant farmhouse just north of Spring Bay. By Frank Radosevich II of the Peoria Journal Star. Will be posted this evening.

Stiffer penalties in store for attacks on utility workers

ROCKFORD – Utility workers have become easy targets for robberies and assaults as they venture out to disconnect service, make repairs and read meters inside and outside of people’s homes. Now the crimes will mean more time, as a new Illinois state law effective Jan. 1 makes attacks on utility workers “aggravated” offenses. By Melissa Westphal of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x899758145

String of suspicious fires continues to worry residents

JACKSONVILLE – When vacant buildings here started falling victim to suspicious fires a few years ago, April Irving wondered if the house across the street from her would be next. Her speculation ended June 8, 2007, when the vacant house was heavily damaged by a suspected arson fire. At the time, it was latest in a string of suspicious fires that started around 2006. By John Reynolds of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1681295898

School needs an Easy Button

GALESBURG – Costa Catholic Academy is still waiting for action from the national office supply company Staples to resolve dispute about its recycling program. In November, Costa sent in more than 200 ink cartridges, and expected the school to receive more than $700 in return. So far, they are still waiting. By Matt Hutton of the Galesburg Register-Mail.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1564566117

BRITT: Toon on Team Clinton being upset at not getting an endorsement from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation’s only Hispanic governor. Will be posted this afternoon.

Pam Adams: Playing hatred against hatred is a losing game

Rev. Wright comes out of a long and valued black oratorical tradition: To make the point, exaggerate the point. The technique is not unique to black ministers or black people. But if it does not hew to certain national mythologies, it can be disconcerting, if not downright frightening to white ears.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x125177561

Jeff Vrabel: It’s not easy being nerdy

Most people would agree that I am something of a nerd. Most people would agree about that, because rarely has a fact made so regularly, aggressively apparent. Gravity is not proven as much as my relative nerdness; there's more debate about the Earth's revolving around the sun.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1056535820

Editorial: ‘A walking and living miracle’

Easter signifies a rebirth in both a religious and secular sense. For Christians this holy day marks the moment when followers of Jesus discovered that their savior had risen from the dead. Non-Christians may see it as the unofficial start of spring. It is in that vein -- a rebirth -- that central Illinoisans can appreciate the story of Percy Baker Jr., the now-retired director of Peoria's George Washington Carver Community Center. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1564566080

Editorial: Iraq War, age 5

What, there's a war in Iraq? Apparently there is, and we just marked its fifth anniversary this past week. Perhaps the Bush administration's greatest accomplishment is getting the economy to tank so that Iraq could be knocked off the nation's front pages. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1564566074

Mike Nadel: CHICAGO - What a bunch of losers the Bulls are. Both in the literal sense and in the much more damning sense of the term. They have quit on two coaches, they squabble with each other and they are mentally weak.

ILLINI: CHAMPAIGN – Multi-sport notebook. Will be topped with men's basketball. By John Supinie. Will be posted this evening.

Jane Miller: Hendrick not off to a quick sprint

An early Easter break in the Sprint Cup season is as good a time as any to assess what has gone on in the first five races. The obvious top topic is the lack of victories by Hendrick Motorsports.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1681295532

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